Golf club



June 8 1926. v

' F. CHARAVAY GOLF CLUB Filed on. 26, 1921- A TTORNEY.

@ INVENTOR Patented June 8, 1926.

PATE-NTJTOFFICE- IBEDEBICK GHARAVAY, F BIQUA, OHIO.

eomr cum.

Application filed October 26, 1921. Serial No. 510,621.

My invent-ion relates to golf clubs and more particularly to the shape or contour of the golf club head, whereby air resistance is reduced to minimum and ,the full effort or force applied in swinging the club may be exerted in the impact of the club upon the ball.

The present invention contemplates the application of approved standard air plane practice, by the adaptation of stream line terially increased by the or air foil shapes developed by scientific methods to the formation of golf club heads.

The object of the invention is to reduce the air resistance to the movement of the club and utilize to some extent the air pressure in accelerating the speed with which the club may be swung, or otherwise utilizing to a greater extent the force or effort put' Referring to the drawings, wherein is.

shown a golf club of the preferred proportion and contour, Fig. '1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Flg. 3 a rear view and Fig. 4 a lateral elevation of the club head. Fig. 5 is a diagram of a stream line body. 1

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

The golf club head as ordinarily constructed presents a face area of several square inches upon which the air pressure is mavelocity of the club throughout the stroke.- At the same time the customary shape of a golf club head presents other surfaces u n' which theair acts as a retardant during the swinging movement. The shape of the club and particularly the abrupt'rear side together with its oval form creates a considerable turbulence of the air current passingin proximity to the club head and induces an area generation of air of low pressure, immediately in the rear of the club. There being an area of highly increased air pressure induced in advance of the club and an area of extremely low pressure in the rear, a considerable proportion of effort and expenditure of force is consumed in overcoming this unbalanced condition.

Through scientific investigation in the aeronautical art, certain curves have been developed along which air currents will flow uniformly and evenly without disturbance or inducing turbulence and areas of low pressure. These curves known as stream line or flow line curves have been standardized and formulae are afforded for generating them. The object is to produce a flow line with the least disturbance of air current. By the use of standard formulae and tables, these flow lines or stream line shapes generally known as air foils may be produced in different proportion, that is to say, curves having difierent degrees of camber, in proportion to their chord, all of which will have the stream line flow line function of passing through the air with minimum disturbance or turbulence and minimum air resistance. The best known of various standardized curves are classified as R. A. F. (Royal Aircraft Factory) and U. S. A. (United States Aircraft) curves, numbered in consecutive order. Numerous other standards are recognized in aeronautical practice. For purposes of illustration in the present instance, a golf club head has been shown developed according to the standard R. A. F. No. 6 curve. It will be understood that other curves of the R. A. F., the U. S. A. series or other standards may be adopted. In the development of a golf club head by this method, the len h of the chord of the air foil or stream ine curve is arbitrarily determined. That is to say, the depth of the club from the striking face to the apex at the rear. On a center line of the predetermined extent, ordinates are erected perpendicular to and intersecting'such center linesat spaced intervals. The relative spacing of the ordinates and the proportional height or extent of the ordinates in relation with that of the chord or center line of the club is determined by standard tables pertaimng to foil or stream line curves. For example the relative spacing and proportionate extent of the ordinates to produce an R. A.

F. No.' 6 curve is as follows:

Height In lieu of the table pertaining to air foil or stream line curves of the R. A. F., the U. S. A., and like standards, the established formulae for development of stream line cross sectional areas of struts or like bodies may be employed.

The following table of measurement for stream line sections has been adapted by the U. S. AirService. Such section is shown in Fig. 5. This section was originally supplied to the National Physical Laboratory by the Itoyal Aircraft Factory. 'It has the lowest air resistance of any section so far developed and 1s very good structurally.

Distance from leading Oitscts from center edge decimal part of line, decimal part 11' (Fig. 5). of 13" (Fig. 5.

0.070 0.3000 0.100 0.3637 0.150 0.4350 0.200 0.4763 5 0.250 0.4900 0.300 0.5000 0.350 0.4950 0.400 0.4912 0.500 0.4675 0.600 0.4225 0.700 0.3612 0.800 0.2850 0.900 0.1887 0.950 0.1237 0.980 0.0762 0.990 0.0500 1.000 0.0000 Referring to the drawing, the club head 1 j is substantially an ovate conoidal body, the

00 curvature of which corresponds to the standardized air foil or stream line curve. The body is not only streamlined or developed with regard to air resistance upon its top and bottom surfaces, but is also stream lined as to horizontal dimensions. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 4 that the top and bottom surfaces 2 and 3 of the club head converge rearwardly upon substantially true air foil curves, and by reference to the top plan view Fig. 2, it will be noted that the club head likewise converges rearwardly upon developed air foil or stream like curve, upon its lateral margins 4. The neck or shank 5 of the club merges into the main body of the head being gradually enlarged as it approaches such main body and in cross section is also of stream line contour, according to the formulae heretofore mentioned. The

leading edge or forward face of the shank is rounded while the trailing or rearward edge is comparatively sharp, the sides of the shank converge rearwardly upon opposite air foil curves. thus eliminating head resistance or air pressure, which must result from an increase of pressure upon the forward side of the shank as well as the face of the club, due to its velocity, with the simultaneous development of an area of low pressure upon the rearward side of the shank due to the turbulence and displacement of air.

By the scientific shaping of this club head in accordance. with established air foil or stream line curves not'only is the air pressure upon the face and rear of the club maintained uniformly in balance, but the air pressure upon the gradually reduced rearward portions of the club tends to accelerate its movement. With the ordinary type of golf club head, the unbalanced air pressure tends to throw the club out of its direct line of action, and is the frequent cause of hooking and slicing whereas upon the present form of club head, the air pressure is neutralized or equalized upon various portions of the surface, thus obviating any tendency of the club to swerve from its normal OOuI'S-r under the action of unbalanced air pressure.

The air pressure in the rear of the moving club being substantially the same as in advance thereof, one will balance the other and the club will move with greater freedom allowing the full force of the swing to be exerted in the impact upon the ball. While the forward ends of the air foil surfaces are truncated to form the striking face 7, the air will automatically form a body or nose of proper shape in advance of this striking face over which the air current will flow normally and smoothly without turbulence or disturbance.

From the above. description it will be ap parent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously 1s susceptible of modification in its form. proportions. detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but that the means andconstruction herein disclosed comprises the preferred form of several modes of putting the in ention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of theap pended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A golf club head comprising a body of ovate conoidal form, developed upon substantially standard stream line curvatures in a fore and aft direction, on planes both vertically and transversely wherein top and bottom surfaces are joined by surrounding margins which merge easily and uniformly into such top and bottom surfaces.

2. A golf club head of substantially elliptical transverse contour, and uniformly tapered rearwardly upon substantially standard'stream line curvature in every aspect of its fore and aft contour with the top, bottom and side surfaces merging uniformly one into another without abrupt change of direction.

3. A golf club head comprising a body of ovate conoidal form having an upwardly inclined Wing portion of broad aspect in fore and aft direction, the rear margin of which is of reduced thickness and merges into the main body of "the club head in close proximity to the apex of its ovate conoidal form, such rear margin being extended in an upwardly and forwardly direction whereby the wing is of less fore and aft extent at its upper terminal than at its juncture with the head, the forward margin of the wing being of thickened rounded form, said wing'having in its .upper end a hosel socket to receive a standard round golf club handle shaft of conventional shape and construction.

4. In a golf club, a head having a striking face, a sole surface and a top surface converging rearwardly from said striking face upon substantially standard stream line curvature in both plan and side view aspects, said bottom and top surfaces merging one into the other through rounded margins without angles or corners whereby the club head is'given a substantially oval transverse contour.

5. In a golf club, a club head having a striking face, arcuate top and bottom surfaces converging rearwardly from the striking face to a substantially pointed rear ter minal, and a rounded margin merging easily and uniformly into the arcuate top and bottom surfaces, and extending from the striking face to the substantially pointed terminal in arcuate formation.

6. In a golf club, a club head having a striking face from which the head converges rearwardly upon substantially stream line contours in both vertical and horizontal planes, the distribution and extent of co-ordinates of width and heights in relation to predeternliined width and height units being identica 7.. In a golf club, a club head, having a striking face. from which the head converges rearwardly upon substantially stream line contours in both vertical and horizontal planes, the ratio of widthrelative to the maximum width being identical with the ratio of height relative to maximum height in all transverse planes.

8. In a golf club, a club head of symmetrical ovate conoidal form having a striking face from which the clug head converges rearwardly to a substantially pointed apex uniformly in all aspects, the top and bottom surfaces being transversely convex and merging one into the other through rounded margins, all fore and aft lines being developed upon the same ratio of like spaced coordinates to a given unit coordinate in the same plane.

9. In a golf club, a club head having a striking face from which the head converges rearwardly uponsubstantially stream line contours in both vertical and horizontal planes, the ratio of height to width being maintained substantially uniformly through ihe (fore and aft tapered contour of the'club In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of October A, D. 1921.

FREDERICK GHARAVAY. 

